Cleaning and Restoration

pwkarch

I picked up 3 "Estate Pipes" today at a somewhat local antique venue. A Kaywoodie, a Yellobole, and a John Murray pipe, $10 apiece so I figure I did pretty well even for cheap pipes. All three including the Yellobole are imported briar. They were bought by the seller at an estate sale some time ago. The stems are in fairly decent shape, and the bowls on the KW and the JM have been reamed at some point or they just were not smoked very much. As soon as I got home I took them apart and soaked the stems in Ever Clear and ran cleaners through them until I felt they were free of sludge and bacteria (if there were any). I usually use rubber bits anyway as I tend to be a clencher so I am not too freaked out by smoking a "used" pipe. Reassembled there seems to be on a dry run no ghosting or any tobacco taste whatsoever.

Next I want to deal with polishing the stems and the briar bowls. Somewhere I read that some guys use "Berts Bees" (lip balm) to polish the briar. I could get some carnnuba (sp?) but we have some of the Berts Bees product right here at home. Any thoughts? Also I am going to polish the stems, after using some OxiClean, with toothpaste as that seems to be recommended as well, Any thoughts on that? I also have some jewelers rouge that I can use with a foredom rotary unit or my dremel that I use for decoy carving if that is better, or a scothbrite  sponge.

Looking for expert opinions here........thanks in advance.

ghostsofpompeii

I use cleaning products from Decatur. Items like No-Ox stem oil, Haze-Away stem oxidation remover, Shine-Brite stem polishing compound, Briar-Fresh airway cleaner, and No-Buff Wax for the wood finish. Lately I've been using some of the Berts Bees lip balm immediately after each smoke to help prevent oxidation from starting on non-acrylic stems. There are others her that can offer much better advice but from what I've read from your post it appears you've done a pretty good job - and should feel confident enough to add those pipes to your rotation.

motie2

Shades of Tolkien and Lewis – Restoring a Stunning Figural Briar “Dryad”

https://rebornpipes.com/2021/01/24/shades-of-tolkien-and-lewis-restoring-a-stunning-figural-briar-dryad/

KA9FFJ

@motie2
I'll have to find out more about the waxes and cleaners he used... tnx...

mfresa

Fantastic!!

Zouave

Nice article @motie2

Monk70

I personally will reem and run a brush through then it gets the salt and everclear for 24 hours. There has been a time or two where I have repeated that step. As for the stem I run pipe cleaners and tube brushes through then in the oxi for 24 hours then Everclear. I usually put it under the UV lamp over night. After that I inspect the briar and usual a 600 -1200 sand. A re-dye just depends on how I think it looks. Carnauba on a buffer wheel. The stem gets the same treatment and if there are any marks I will then mix natural charcoal and super glue to fill in. Sand, buff and run minty pipe fresh through the pipe and stem then it goes under the UV light over night again. I did the tooth paste in the beginning but I figured if I wanted better results then more time more steps but it does get the job done if the pipe is just for yourself.

RockyMountainBriar

@Monk70
Just a quick warning, acrylic will haze and Bakelite will soften and melt if soaked in Eveclear😳
Been there, done that😖

Monk70

RockyMountainBriar I do not soak my stems in Everclear! They get a clean out with Everclear on pipe cleaners and just a quick wipe down. I know better than that!!! The stems soak in Oxiclean only.
⚓️

Monk70

I guess I should have made myself clearer, sorry about that!
⚓️

KA9FFJ

Was there a pun intended in that last post @RockyMountainBriar
😏🙂😏

RockyMountainBriar

@KA9FFJ
I’m not following your thought, I’m too slow today🤔

KA9FFJ

You were talking about Everclear.  Then you stated you should have made yourself "clearer". 
I know, I know, it was a strech, but the way COVID has limited things, I start reaching for ANY humor I can find... ANYWHERE...😬

RockyMountainBriar

@KA9FFJ
Ahh, that wasn’t me, it was @Monk70, now it makes sense👌🏻

KA9FFJ

@RockyMountainBriar
👍

Monk70

Yes that was, I tried tossing some humor in there. Between my brain damage, spell check and me being techno challenged life gets hard sometimes and things do not come out like intended.
⚓️

motie2

Available on eBay        https://www.ebay.com/itm/Carey-Straight-Shank-Pipe-Reamer-Tool-3702/254719708621

thebadgerpiper

Disaster today after working on restoring this pipe on and off since November. 

RockyMountainBriar

@thebadgerpiper
😳 🙁 😭
Nice looking pipe. A Peterson #268 K-Briar?   I think it would have been better without the “modification” though😬.
Save the broken tenon, “someone” might be able to repair that with a hidden internal stainless tube, unless of course, you are just going to make/fit a new stem or have a stem made.

KA9FFJ

@thebadgerpiper
😬🙁

Zouave

dont feel too bad @thebadgerpiper I just got this Ropp Cutty and was bringing outside for it's first smoke, when I tripped on the ice and fell against the car. I heard that sickening crack noise reached in my pocket and felt two pieces where there once was only one. I am still in a bad mood several hours later. Guess it's off to the repair bench for this once brand new pipe

thebadgerpiper

@Zouave No! That’s horrible! I hope you can somehow get it on the mend. My condolences. 

motie2

Just stumbled upon this. Is the advice any good?

Which Products and Why – Adhesives & Abrasives for Pipe Restoration

https://dadspipes.com/2019/10/25/which-products-and-why/

motie2

A new blog concerning Pipe Repair & Restoration
https://dadspipes.com/blog/

It's not https://rebornpipes.com, but then, what is?

Zouave

@motie2 thanks for the info. I have it setting with J.B. Weld now and will see how she holds in the morning. The grey in the hardener blends good with the dark bowl. 

RockyMountainBriar

@Zouave
That is a bummer😢

Stainless steel liner and clear cyanoacrylic works well if the break is clean.  It’s almost impossible to see it.

Zouave

@RockyMountainBriar I hadn't even though of a liner. Thanks for the idea. I could probably make a silver band to place over the break. I'm just pissed I hadn't even gotten any tobacco into the bowl. 

RockyMountainBriar

@Zouave
Yea, that really sucks🙁

I have lined a couple of cracked shanks with stainless steel.  I did have to cut the internal seam smooth of the stainless steel tube with a little boring bar I made for the lathe.  I had to do it because it had to extend all the way to the end of the shank and the tenon had to fit into it smoothly.  By the way, nice pipe....well, before the unintentional “modification” anyway.  I hope you get it fired up.

motie2

Out, Damned Spot! 14th March, 2012: Posted by glpease

<<After years of experimentation, I have come up with a promising method for freshening up those old briars, almost to their virgin state.>>

http://glpease.com/BriarAndLeaf/?p=95

motie2

<< This is the story of a pipe – possibly damaged beyond reasonable limits – which I really liked and decided (against my better judgement) to revivify.>>   Blog by Kenneth Lieblich

https://rebornpipes.com/2021/05/01/beauty-or-the-beast/

opipeman

I've got a restoration question. I don't remember when I purchased this Meerschaum, but I do remember it was cheap. The problem is that some previous owner used sandpaper(?) to line up the stem with the meerschaum and left it rough. I would like to correct the the acrylic blemish. I don't have a buffing wheel. Is there a way to buff it my hand? Any advise would be appreciated.